The 18 best things to do on Kangaroo Island

If you're looking for maximum-level Australia, here it is. This secluded stretch of coast claimed the title of Australia’s best beach in a Tourism Australia ranking in 2023, and we are fully behind the decision. You must crawl through a rocky maze of caves to actually access Stokes Bay, but it’s well worth it for the inviting blue waters, uncrowded stretch of soft white sands and large, sheltered rock pool waiting on the other side. And yes, you will probably see kangaroos on the beach. Other popular coastal stretches to stop at include Snelling Beach, Emu Bay and Pennington Bay.

There are only 500 steps between you and Kangaroo Island’s highest point, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the entire island, including Pelican Lagoon and Pennington Bay. You’ll need some serious steam in the tank to hike all the way up the sand hill, but reaching the top is well worth it for that 'on top of the world' (or island) feeling.

As the name suggests, there are no prizes given to those guessing what animal you’ll encounter on Kangaroo Island. The native wildlife here is extraordinarily abundant so keep your eyes peeled for more than just kangaroos: seals, sea lions, platypi and echidnas all call Kangaroo Island home. Best yet, this spot also hosts a teeming koala population. The greatest places to see them are in conservation spaces, Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, and in the wild along Cygnet River.

Once upon a time, a little fig seedling was planted to grow food for Kangaroo Island’s first settlers. Fast forward 120 years and that very tree now sets the scene for the island’s most enchanting dining experience, The Fig Tree KI, available exclusively from November to April. The ancient fig tree will shade you from the hot sun as you enjoy a leisurely 2.5-hour lunch, featuring an ever-changing Mediterranean-inspired menu of coastal foraged ingredients and hyper-local seafood. After feasting on American River oysters, golden kelp focaccia, saltbush porchetta and olive oil sorbet, you can walk right across the road to Snelling Beach and fall asleep in a blissful food coma.

Perched atop limestone cliffs between Flinders Chase National Park and Seal Bay Conservation Park, Southern Ocean Lodge is one of only two places in Australia named on National Geographic’s world’s best hotels list for 2024. The 25 sparkling suites in this dreamy eco-hotel were recently rebuilt after being destroyed by wildfires in 2019 and 2020. Guests can soak up all the luxuries in their private plunge pool, take in sweeping views of the Indian Ocean from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and cosy up by the fireplace with a nightcap in hand.

Mother Nature’s greatest masterpiece on Kangaroo Island is hiding in the West End, just below the Cape de Couedic lighthouse. Follow the 800-metre boardwalk to the viewing platform, where you’ll be rewarded with views of a spectacular natural rock arch sculpted by thousands of years of weathering and erosion. As you descend the stairs into the arch, look out for long-nosed fur seals playing in the rock pools beneath. 

Minutes away from the crystal clear shallows of Emu Bay is the island’s only lavender farm, a family-run gem spanning five generations. You’ll stroll through picturesque rows of lavender to reach Emu Bay Lavender Farm’s charming café, where you’ll find freshly baked oversized scones, served with lavender jelly, strawberry jam and whipped cream. While the farm’s 7,500 lavender plants only bloom in summer, the farm gate is open year-round, so you can pick up housemade lavender gin, honey, essential oils and hand creams. The delightful fragrance will linger long after your visit.

Aptly named, Remarkable Rocks at the tip of Flinders Chase National Park is a Kangaroo Island wonder. The commanding maze of granite boulders has formed across the past 500 million years and happens to be peppered with golden-orange lichen that compliments gleams of morning sunlight – what a time to be alive. The precarious stones cast dramatic shadows as dawn turns to day across the abstruse Southern Ocean – a remarkable sight, one may say. As with anything, keep your wits about you – smooth surfaces and unpredictable waters can be hazardous at the best of times.

You can have a spectacular time on Kangaroo Island without spending a cent, but Flinders Chase National Park and Seal Bay are two exceptions to this rule. The latter is home to Australia’s largest sea lion population and has been for thousands of years. You can see these endangered animals and their pups up close from a 900-metre boardwalk that winds through the sand dunes. For beach access to the sea-lion colony, you can join a 45-minute guided tour, which runs nine times daily.

You might come to Kangaroo Island for its beautiful beaches and native wildlife, but you’ll leave with a newfound love for its wine. There are boutique wineries, breweries and distilleries tucked into the island’s lush landscapes, each offering cellar-door tastings and delightful dining experiences. Just five minutes out of Kingscote is Bay of Shoals Wines, where you can enjoy a romantic picnic among the vines with a bottle of their famous rosé or sparkling wines. If you’ve parked yourself in Penneshaw for the night, then make the trip to Dudley Wines for a tasting at their clifftop cellar door, which overlooks the sparkling Backstairs Passage. A 20-minute drive north will bring you to False Cape Wines, the island’s largest vineyard offering minimal intervention wines, alongside hearty homestyle pies. Wine not your thing? Instead, craft your very own gin at Australia’s first-ever gin distillery, Kangaroo Island Spirits; shake things up with a ginger beer at Kangaroo Island Brewery; or refresh with a small-batch cider at Kangaroo Island Ciders. 

To explore the most remote and remarkable corners of Kangaroo Island, you’ll need a car. We recommend renting a campervan from Camplify and bringing it over on the 45-minute ferry journey from Cape Jervis. With a reliable set of wheels, you can cruise around the entire island on your own time (or should we say, island time), stopping and sleeping wherever your heart desires.

Witness the breathtaking beauty of Kangaroo Island on this 66-kilometre, five-day trek that wraps around the stunning coastline of Flinders Chase National Park. You can conquer the rugged and remote trail solo or with a guide, noting that bookings are capped at 48 people per day. The cooler months from March and November are ideal for hiking, but the track is open year-round with each month bringing its own charms – be it wildflowers, whales or seal breeding. Throughout the five days, you’ll experience the island’s most incredible natural wonders, including Admi­rals Arch, Remark­able Rocks, Weirs Cove, Han­son Bay and Kel­ly Hill Caves.

With more than 35 diverse hikes on the island, you’ll have no trouble finding a trail to stretch your legs and soak in the unreal scenery. If you need some fresh air straight after jumping off the ferry, find your way to the easy breezy 1.5-kilometre Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail, where you can see original artworks right by the water’s edge. For those keen on lighthouses, the Cape Willoughby Heritage Hike on the east and the Cape du Couedic Hike on the west are popular options. Meanwhile, the five-kilometre Platypus Waterholes Walk offers a chance to spot kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goannas and, with a bit of patience, even platypuses.

Eat like an islander at this funky farm gate set in the pretty little town of American Bay. The Oyster Farm Shop sustainably harvests oysters daily from April to January, shucking them fresh for you to enjoy natural, topped, chilled or grilled. Along with salty Pacific oysters, you can try the native angasi oysters – an earthy and more meaty species new to Kangaroo Island. You can even learn the art of shucking oysters with hands-on masterclasses, or watch the shuck-stars in action on daily farm tours, running at 10.30am.

For your daily dose of vitamin bee, make a pit stop at Clifford’s Honey Farm. The island’s original honey farm started out as a hobby for Dave Clifford in 1973, but with the help of his wife Jenny and their two daughters, has expanded into a bee-autiful farm shop gate selling every honey product under the sun. Clifford’s Honey Farm specialises in pure Ligurian honey, with Kangaroo Island being the only place in the world where Ligurian bees are found. Daily guided tours of their extracting shed at 1pm give you a peek into their honey-making process, and you absolutely can’t leave without trying Jenny’s famous honeycomb ice cream. 

A lot of beaches get called out as Australia's best, but Vivonne Bay definitely deserves its regular top-tier rankings. This six-kilometre U-shaped cove is one of Kangaroo Island’s most popular surf beaches, offering sheltered breaks that both beginner and skilled surfers can ride without anything (or anyone) getting in the way. If you didn’t bring a board, Vivonne Bay is also one of Kangaroo Island’s safest swimming beaches and a fantastic location for fishing. With just one general store and a campground nearby, it's the perfect place to switch off and soak up the beauty of South Australia, without the crowds.

If you need a hearty feed after arriving at or departing from Penneshaw ferry terminal, Millie Mae’s is your go-to spot. This gorgeous garden café serves up the best coffee on the island, alongside seasonal soups, homestyle paninis, vegan cakes, and a K.I. tasting platter filled with local cheese and charcuterie. Enjoy your meal alfresco with a lamington hot chocolate, mulled wine or locally brewed beer. Alternatively, cosy up inside and explore Millie Mae’s boutique gift shop, stocked with artisan Kangaroo Island gifts. 

Sledding down the sand dunes in the world’s largest hot desert, the Sahara, is a bucket list adventure for both the young and the young at heart. Skip the 24-hour journey with a trip to Kangaroo Island’s very own Little Sahara, a naturally occurring inland dune field with sand dunes reaching up to 70 metres high. You can buckle up and explore the backcountry on an exhilarating four-wheel buggy tour, experience the thrills by hiring a toboggan or sandboard to slide down the dunes, or glide across the soft sands on an electric fat bike.